Welcome to wonderful Whitby. This coastal town has something special, and has long been popular with visitors to Yorkshire’s Coast, owing to it’s delightful harbour, which is surrounded by pretty houses and accommodation, restaurants and fun things to do. All this splendour is overlooked by historic Whitby Abbey, and alongside a sandy beach.
Take a stroll along the harbour walls, from where you may be lucky to see seals, dolphins and porpoises playing as little fishing boats chug by. A boat ride is highly recommended.
Table of Contents
An Introduction to Whitby
From the atmospheric Abbey towering over winding cobbled streets to the windswept beach and working harbour, Whitby is not your traditional coastal town. No trip to this picturesque ancient seaport would be complete without sampling some award-winning fish and chips, following the footsteps of Bram Stoker’s Dracula and English explorer Captain James Cook or discovering the history of the famous Whitby Jet.
Enjoy the North York Moors, Yorkshire Coast and Howardian Hills by public transport, find out more.
Places to Stay in Whitby
Hotels in Whitby
The following hotels are in or very close to Whitby.
Horseshoe Hotel
Horseshoe Hotel Egton Bridge, Whitby, YO21 1XE, United KingdomSaxonville Hotel
Ladysmith Avenue, Whitby, YO21 3HX, United KingdomThe Royal Hotel Whitby
West Cliff, Whitby, YO21 3HA, United KingdomSneaton Castle
Castle Road, Whitby, YO21 3QN, United KingdomWhite Horse & Griffin
87 Church Street, Whitby, YO22 4BH, United KingdomPenny Hedge, Whitby by Marston’s Inns
3-5 Botany Way, Whitby, YO22 4NL, United KingdomThere’s more hotels to choose from in Whitby. Click here to view them all.
Self Catering Holiday Cottages
Below you can see a small sample of the many great holiday cottages in Whitby. Click here to view them all. Also see the range of B&Bs in Whitby.
Grosmont Cottage, Ruswarp
Grosmont cottage, Lambert Hill Farm, The Carrs, Ruswarp, Whitby, YO21 1RL, United KingdomLemonade Cottage
Whitby, YO22 4EG, United Kingdom9 Railway Cottages
Whitby, YO211TH, United KingdomAlbany House, Whitby
Whitby, YO21 3BX, United KingdomRaithwaite Sandsend
Sandsend Road, Whitby, YO21 3ST, United KingdomHost & Stay – Oyster Cottage
8 Spa Well Court, Whitby, United Kingdom, YO21 1TJThings to do in Whitby – Attractions
Events in Whitby
Allelujah (12A) at Whitby Pavilion Theatre Cinema, Whitby
West Cliff, Whitby, YO21 3ENDate & Time:
April 11th, 2023 2:00pmAllelujah (12A) at Whitby Pavilion Theatre Cinema, Whitby
West Cliff, Whitby, YO21 3ENDate & Time:
April 9th, 2023 5:00pmAllelujah (12A) at Whitby Pavilion Theatre Cinema, Whitby
West Cliff, Whitby, YO21 3ENDate & Time:
April 10th, 2023 5:00pmDirty Dusting at Whitby Pavilion Theatre, Whitby
West Cliff, Whitby, YO21 3ENDate & Time:
May 29th, 2023 7:30pmFirst Class Wrestling at Whitby Pavilion Theatre, Whitby
West Cliff, Whitby, YO21 3ENDate & Time:
August 26th, 2023 7:30pmBabylon (18) at Whitby Pavilion Theatre Cinema, Whitby
West Cliff, Whitby, YO21 3ENDate & Time:
March 29th, 2023 7:00pmWhitby images
About Whitby
Whitby is one of the most famous and popular seaside towns in Yorkshire.
Whitby is split by the River Esk. On the East Cliff, overlooking the North Sea, the ruined Gothic Whitby Abbey was Bram Stoker’s inspiration for “Dracula”. Nearby is the Church of St. Mary, reached by 199 steps.
The Captain Cook Memorial Museum, in the house where Cook once lived, displays paintings and maps.
West of town is West Cliff Beach, lined with beach huts.
As well as being the birthplace of some of modern history’s best known stories, Whitby has a maritime, mineral and tourist heritage.
Tourism started in Whitby during the Georgian period and developed with the arrival of the railway in 1839. Its attraction as a tourist destination is enhanced by the proximity of the high ground of the North York Moors national park and the heritage coastline and by association with the horror novel Dracula.
For industry, as well as fishing, Jet and alum were mined locally, and Whitby jet, which was mined by the Romans and Victorians, became fashionable during the 19th century.
The abbey ruin at the top of the East Cliff is the town’s oldest and most prominent landmark.
Other significant features include the swing bridge, which crosses the River Esk and the harbour, which is sheltered by the grade II listed East and West piers.
The town’s maritime heritage is commemorated by statues of Captain Cook and William Scoresby, as well as the whalebone arch that sits at the top of the West Cliff.
The town also has a strong literary tradition and has featured in literary works, television and cinema.
See more on the Yorkshire Coast here.
Whitby on the Map
Where is Whitby? You can find Whitby at the edge of the North York Moors, on the beautiful Yorkshire Coast. Specifically, it is in North Yorkshire, in between Scarborough and Saltburn.
Whitby has a train station, at the end of a branch line from Middlesbrough, and is on the main A171 road which runs from Middlesbrough to Scarborough. There is a junction in the middle of the town with the A174 which follows the coast more closely, through the towns of Saltburn, Marske and Redcar.
Whitby FAQ’s
Is Whitby worth visiting?
Short answer: yes! A compact, historic harbour town with bustling cafe’s, restaurants, steps up to an ancient abbey and glorious sea views.
What is Whitby famous for?
Whitby is famous for fish & chips as well as Whitby Abbey – the inspiration for the setting of Bram Stoker‘s novel “Dracula”.
Who is the most famous person in Whitby?
Captain Cook – Captain James Cook is famous for his discovery of Australia. He was a British explorer, navigator, cartographer, captain in the British Royal Navy and most likely one of Whitby’s most famous people.
Why is Whitby famous for Dracula?
Novelist, Bram Stoker, stayed in Whitby and used the ancient ruins of the abbey overlooking the cliffs as the setting for his gothic horror “Dracula”.
Where next?
Head to the North York Moors for rolling countryside or to York for big name acts and fine dining.